Guidance note on best statistical practices for TOAR analyses

Abstract

The aim of this guidance note is to provide recommendations on best statistical practices and to ensure consistent communication of statistical analysis and associated uncertainty across TOAR publications. The scope includes approaches for reporting trends, a discussion of strengths and weaknesses of commonly used techniques, and calibrated language for the communication of uncertainty. The focus of this guidance note is placed on trend analysis, which is expected to be the main statistical topic of interest across many TOAR-II focus working groups, but some of the recommendations and principles provided below are also valid for other applications. Recommendations are highlighted and numbered from R1 to R9.